Liverpool v Udinese (8.05)

Liverpool are finally winning games under Brendan Rodgers and expect them to continue their recent success with another three points in Europe over the Italians (Liverpool 4/6, Udinese 9/2, draw 11/4 – match prices).

Rodgers will again utilise his impressive crop of youngsters in the Group A match after they served him well in the opening clash against Young Boys last month when they eventually came out on top 5-3.

Jonjo Shelvey was the star that night with two goals when coming on as a sub, and expect him to start as he is currently on a domestic ban following his red card against Manchester United. Rodgers will give the majority of his first-choice players the night off but, even without the likes of Steven Gerrard, Glen Johnson, Luis Suarez and Pepe Reina, they should have enough to make it two wins out of two in the competition.

Stewart Downing, Jordan Henderson and Sebastian Coates should all get another chance to impress and push their first-team claims, while veteran defender Jamie Carragher is likely to skipper the side.

Udinese kicked off their Europa League group campaign with a 1-1 draw with Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala and are unbeaten in five games in total. However, they have only won once in nine in all competitions this term and would gladly settle for another point  at Anfield.

Francesco Guidolin’s men do have talent in the shape of Antonio Di Natale, Brazilian summer signing Willians, and on-loan Andrea Lazzari but they are not fancied to cause an upset in this, although they could hold the Reds at bay in the first 45 minutes with HT/FT – Draw/Liverpool worth backing at 3/1 and a correct score of 2-0 to the Reds our prediction at odds of 6/1.

Newcastle v Bordeaux (8.05)

The Magpies have made a solid start to the Premier League season and began the Europa League group stage with a goalless draw in Portugal with Maritimo. Again, expect a much-changed side when Alan Pardew reveals his selections to take on French outfit Bordeaux as Toon aim for a home win to take charge of the group early on (Newcastle 7/5 Bordeaux 2/1 draw 9/4 – match prices).

Youngsters Sammy Ameobi, Adam Campbell, James Tavernier and Gael Bigirimana are all tipped to be involved while Pardew is expected to rest one or both of first-choice strikers Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse against the six-times French title winners.

Breaking down Bordeaux might prove tough, however, as they are well known in France for their defensive-minded tactics and are on an extremely-impressive 17-match unbeaten run – that includes a 4-0 thumping of Club Bruges in the Group D opener, a 0-0 with the star-studded PSG and a fine 2-0 win at Lyon in Ligue 1 over the weekend.

Czech Republic international Jaroslav Plasil is seen as the key attacking midfielder for Francis Gillot’s side when they do venture forward and they will put up a stern fight at St James’ Park. Expect the home side to eventually secure a win, though, with 1-0 appealing in the correct score market at 5/1.

Panathinaikos v Tottenham (6.00)

After a tricky start to his Tottenham tenure, Andre Villas-Boas appears to have got the Londoners going with the weekend 3-2 win at Manchester United the highlight of a mixed campaign so far.

AvB’s men had the better of a 0-0 opening Group J encounter with Lazio last month but had to settle for a point, although they should get their Europa League campaign up-and running with a win on Thursday in Greece (Spurs 11/10 Panathinaikos 2/1 draw 9/4 – match prices).

The Portuguese fielded a fairly strong line-up against the Italians and is set to start with plenty of his regular Premier League squad against Panathinaikos with Jermain Defoe, Clint Dempsey and possibly even Gareth Bale all in contention.

Hugo Lloris will come in again for Brad Friedel in goal but that hardly weakens the Premier League top-four contenders, and with their opponents on Thursday without a win in six matches, expect them to have too much for Panathinaikos despite a lively home crowd backing Jesualdo Ferreira’s men.

In the correct score market, 2-0 to Spurs is our selection at odds of 7/1.

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